And what makes the availment of a home equity line of credit a viable loan option in comparison to a home equity loan?
There's the ease of use in accessing the loan. This can be as trouble-free as writing a special check to access the account, the use of your credit card or ATM machines to get funds. Also, you only pay interest on the amount you've used. And have the option of renewing the credit line when the draw period expires.
On the other hand, the home equity loan is paid to you in a one-time lump sum manner, immediately after the contract has been signed. Once you have received the entire amount, you can no longer borrow on that account.
This offers you the flexibility of accessing the amount you need to borrow when you want to for duration of the agreement. If you are planning to use the loaned amount in installments such as college tuition fees, or as a stopgap while you are unemployed, take out a home equity line of credit.
Financial experts generally recommend the use of a home equity loan for big-ticket items, like a car or yacht, medical emergencies or for renovating a home.
With the use of a home equity credit line, you can postpone paying the principal for an agreed upon number of years or pay a special discounted interest rate. On the opposite side of the spectrum, a home equity loan requires you to pay the principal and interest fees for the duration of the entire loan.
If you have a disciplined attitude towards managing your funds, then a home equity credit line will work for you. You'll use it only when needed.
You'll enjoy more choices of payment options based on interest rates. Some lenders offer a flexible interest rate or one where the borrower pays the principal plus interest; it's all up to the borrower. Or you can also decide on a fixed monthly payment schedule.
In addition to this, a home equity credit line has shorter payment term schedules. With a home equity loan, you are paying for the convenience over a longer period of time.
However, there are two features a home equity line of credit has, that need to be weighed together with the advantages:
A home equity line of credit places a large amount of credit at your disposal. However if you default on the loan payments, you run a real risk of losing your home. Conversely, this is why it is attractive to lenders, because their experience has shown them very few borrowers default on payments.
The second feature is the possibility of being liable to pay a large repayment amount at the end of the home equity line of credit. Ask the lender if this is a feature of the loan, and if so, assess your ability to pay this amount. If you feel you don't have the capacity, then have a renewal option built into the contract.
There are no cut and dried answers to the question of whether a home equity line of credit is the best loan option for you. As a borrower, you must assess your need for the loan, the purpose you'll use it for, and your capacity to pay. Only then will you be able to make an informed decision about this loan.
Home Equity Line Of Credit
You have tightened your belt during the time you are saving for your house. Now, that you have enough equity in that property, you may loosen up a bit by making use of your equity through home equity line of credit.
Home equity line of credit or HELOC, can help you in myriad of financial necessities. It can help you have a fund when you need it and for whatever purpose you may need it.
Although, you should be careful because putting your house as collateral may cause you to loose your house if you fail to pay your debt. This should make you think many times before you embark on taking money through home equity line of credit.
However, if your purpose of taking out money by means of home equity line of credit is to pay for medical bills or children's college education, these expenses are inevitable. Thus, taking out money by means of home equity line of credit can be your best bet.
Additionally, if you want to consolidate your debt, HELOC or home equity line of credit may also be beneficial. This is because compared to credit cards and other unsecured credit facilities, the interest rate in a home equity line of credit is somewhat smaller. Another benefit of this means of taking out money is that consumer credits interests are tax deductible.
However, having said the benefits you may have from acquiring a credit through home equity line of credit, you may also need to look at the possible consequences if you fail to pay your debt.
The most important consideration is the possibility of loosing your house to pay off the debt.
It is thus recommendable that while you are considering the flexibility of a credit line, if you need a lump sum fund, you may consider taking out a Home Equity Loan instead. This is because in a home equity loan, you pay the interest and part of the principal debt regularly.
This is in contrast to the variable interest rate that applies in a home equity line of credit. Additionally, in a home equity credit line, your payments balloons at the end when you need to pay the principal amount of debt.
The flexibility of the home equity line of credit extends up to paying only the interests and paying the entire principal loan at the end of the term.
This makes it quite hard, and if you are not ready for such balloon payment, the risk of loosing your house is intrinsic in this case.
This is the reason why financial experts recommend that before you sign any contract that puts your house as collateral, you may need to scrutinize yourself a bit.
-Will you need the money lump sum?
Ask about home equity loan.
-Do you need fund periodically?
Ask about home equity line of credit.
Consider also asking for payments terms, interest rates and what conditions will make the lender consider you in default. These questions once answered may help you realize if putting your house as collateral is the best solution to your monetary needs.
There are other credit facilities, for this reason, you may need to do your research first before deciding.
Various debt management websites can help you understand the eccentricities of financial management that will help you avoid loosing your most precious asset.
Both Ben Anton & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ben Anton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Software, Home and Writing. Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR. Ben works for a web design and marketing company named Labworks Design.Com. Labworks specializes in all aspects of online marketing, branding and professional web design.. Ben Anton's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.
has sinced written about articles on various topics from . . 's top article . to your Favourites.
Business Mlm Networking Opportunity In conclusion, see to it that you are watchful of Multi-level marketing deception by completing all vital inspections prior to signing up this is because therere a lot of fraudulent Multi-level mark...